|
||||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
ICEM-A/P News |
|
Infos |
|
Reference |
Welcome Speech to
ICEM World Conference for the Chemical Industry
Nov. 26-28, 2001, Bangkok
Daisaku Kochiyama
Chairperson of ICEM-A/P
Dear Sisters and Brothers, Distinguished Guests,
I am very honoured to welcome, on behalf of Asia Pacific Region, all of you here in Bangkok. It is more than our pleasure to host this ICEM World Chemical Conference in our Region.
As Regional Chairperson of ICEM-A/P, I am very grateful to ICEM and Brother Fred Higgs for holding this important event in Asia since we all agree to urgent matter of setting our common strategy for rapidly changing situation in Chemical Industry.
Dear Colleagues, we have been experiencing enormous and rapid changes in Chemical Industry since we met in Hanover in 1997.
We are under huge amount of pressure with the process of globalisation. Restructuring process with significant job-cut and merger has been pushing us to unprecedented competition in the labor market. Asia/Pacific region was not exceptional in this serious problem of new challenge to trade unions. We never thought that India will accept the structural readjustment process with large scale of employment reduction and introduction of new technology. No one expected in 70's and 80's that there will be such an impressive urban development with sky buildings in Shanghai, China. What we realise now is that the globalisation process affects everyone in every country and we face tremendous task of reducing the negative impact from globalisation. Unfortunately the gap between rich and poor is growing fast in all countries.
In Asia, we now foresee, in 10 years, the emergence of new regional economic bloc. Recently ASEAN Plus THREE countries agreed to begin the process of free trade area. It means two billion population in the regional block with a combined gross domestic product of $ 4 trillion and $4.23 trillion in two-way trade. While we recognise the need of free trade so as to solve the immediate problems facing a region struggling to escape a global economic downturn, we are yet to know the impact of this free trade on our life. We know the European Union completes the process of its single economic system. NAFTA is already on active operation but there are certain concerns over working conditions. We are in an urgent need of concrete joint strategy among international unions and national unions.
Dear Colleagues, I find the ICEM has taken correct policy of global network and support of global compact to tackle the problems of globalisation. ICEM-AP has been implementing the ICEM guideline of global networking as priority agenda for last four years since its establishment. We have now established network in major industries and has set up information exchange network, in key multinational companies, such as BASF, Good Year and Pharmaceutical Companies. We support ICEM's efforts on expanding the number of Global Compact and Agreement.
On the other hand, we consider seriously the problem of existing OSH conditions in chemical industry in Asia to be taken care by global cooperation. In this context, we in Chemical Industry have serious obligation to do work and cooperate more on ICEM's Initiatives on Responsible Care. Environment issues are not second matter to us in chemical industry. We hope Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change should be supported by all trade unions in the world and formalised in the near future.
Dear Colleagues, we face new challenge of terrorism in this early 21st Century. We deplore any violent means of conflict-solving. I would like to share deep condolence towards victimised family in New York. We call for peaceful way of solution by any countries and any groups.
In Asia, we note the incredible development of Chinese economy with 1 billion population, which affects seriously many neighbouring countries in many aspects. China is now a member of World Trade Organisation but we, trade unions, are far behind in terms of strategy towards workers and trade unions in China. China has now introduced Trade Union Act. We need to seek better wisdom to cooperate with serious trade union leaders and workers in China so as to influence new generation of trade unionists for democratic trade unionism.
Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to ICEM for organising this serious event of discussion in our Region.
Thank you very much
